Section 42.06.310. Standards of service and facilities.

   (a) Each oil or gas pipeline facility shall furnish and maintain adequate, efficient, and safe service and facilities. This service shall be reasonably continuous and without unreasonable interruption or delay.
   (b) If the commission, upon its own motion or upon complaint, after providing reasonable notice and opportunity for hearing, finds that the service or facilities of an oil or gas pipeline facility are unreasonable, unsafe, inadequate, insufficient, or unreasonably discriminatory, or otherwise in violation of this chapter, the commission shall prescribe by regulation or order, the reasonable, safe, adequate, sufficient service or facilities to be observed, furnished, enforced, or employed, including all repairs, changes, alterations, extensions, substitutions, or improvements in facilities that are reasonably necessary and proper for the safety, accommodation, and convenience of the public and the users.  Regulations or orders issued under this subsection shall conform to accepted industry standards and practices.
   (c) Every common carrier shall, when ordered by the commission, extend or enlarge its pipeline or storage facilities provided the extension or enlargement shall be found to be reasonable and required in the public interest and that the expense involved will not impair the ability of the common carrier or public utility to perform its duty to the public.
   (d) The requirement of (c) of this section does not apply to a North Slope natural gas pipeline carrier to the extent that the capacity of the carrier's North Slope natural gas pipeline does not allow for expanded capacity, and does not apply to require a North Slope natural gas pipeline carrier to enlarge or extend its North Slope natural gas pipeline system. However, the commission may require a North Slope natural gas pipeline carrier to expand, enlarge, or extend its North Slope natural gas pipeline system if, after notice and opportunity for hearing, the commission determines that
        (1) a person making a request for expanded, enlarged, or extended service by a North Slope natural gas pipeline carrier has made a firm contractual commitment to the North Slope natural gas pipeline carrier to transport North Slope natural gas; and
        (2) the expansion, enlargement, or extension will not result in
             (A) substantial injury, including economic injury, to the North Slope natural gas pipeline facility or its customers;
             (B) substantial detriment to the services furnished by the North Slope natural gas pipeline facility; or
             (C) the creation of safety hazards.

Notes

History

(Sec. 1 ch 139 SLA 1972; am Sec. 29 ch 3 FSSLA 1973; am Sec. 90 ch 59 SLA 1982; am Sec. 5 ch 56 SLA 2000)